Rail.



J. S. FOX.

RAIL.

APPLICATION FILED JAN 22, 1914.

1,1 17,827, Patented Nov. 17, 1914.

rME NORRIS PETERS CO,PHOTO-LITHO..WASHINGTY1N. o

JAMES S. FOX, OF JACKsoN MICHIGAN.

RAIL.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1'7, 1914.

Application filed January 22, 1914. Serial No. 813,748.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES S. Fox, a subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at Jackson, in the county of Jackson and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rails, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improved railway rail.

An object oi' the invention resides in the provision of a railway rail wherein the tread portion is constructed and arranged relative to the web and base thereof, in such a novel and peculiar manner as to provide for ready removal of the former,this arrangement and construction permitting, when in the course of manufacture, the use of a very high grade of metal for the tread portion of the rail, and the use of a com paratively inferior metal for the web and base portion thereof, the former, by reason of its disposition, receiving the wear and tear incident to use, while the latter, being fully protected, may be used indefinitely.

A further object of the invention is to provide a longitudinally divided or sectional rail wherein the tread portion thereof is so constructed as to permit, when one of its longitudinal edges becomes worn through continued use, removal and reverse replacement, thereby subjecting both edges of the rail to use, and in this way materially prolonging the longevity and durability of the said rail. I

A still further object of the invention is to provide means whereby the tread portion of the rail may be both longitudinally and laterally braced.

The invention further contemplates the provision of means for breaking the joints of the head and base, so that the joints of the head will lie intermediately of the joints of the base and web, thus strengthening the structure, and obviating the use of fish plates, and otherwise improving on rails now in general use.

The above and additional objects are accomplished by such means as are illustrated in their preferred embodiment in the accompanying drawings, described in the following specification and then more particularly pointed out in the claim which is appended hereto and forms a part of this application.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters denote like or corresponding parts throughout the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a portion of a railway rail constructed in accordance with the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Referring now to the drawings by nu merals, 1 designates as an entirely, thebase and web portion of the rail, and 2, as an entirety the tread-surface or head-poi= tion of the rail. The base and web portion 1 in its preferred embodiment comprises a rail brace 3, a web at, and a comparatively small head portion 5. The tread surface or head portion of the rail 2 comprises a tread portion (5 having depending integrally formed extensions 7 disposed, one to depend upon each side of the head portion 5 and web at of the rail section 1. The extremities of the extensions 7 are rounded as at S and are adapted for engagement with a longitudinally extending shoulder 9 formed, one upon each side of the web 4 of the rail base, preferably intermediate the web and outer edge of the base portion 3. The head portion 5 of the rail base section 1 is of a size sufficient to engage the respective side walls of the longitudinal groove 10 of the upper section 2 formed by the tread portion 6 and extensions 7 comprising the said upper section.

By the novel and peculiar arrangement of the rail sections 1 and 2 disposed as above forth and as is illustrated to advantage in Fig. 2 of the drawings, it is apparent that the tread surface or head portion of the rails is uniformly braced.

The fastening means for the upper section 2 of the rail includes a plurality of transverse bolts 11 disposed to fit openings in the web 4 of the lower section 1, and also elongated openings 12 formed in the respective extensions 7 of the upper section 2, all of the said openings being alined or disposed in registration to in this manner serve as an anti-creeping element for the rail. As a fur ther fastening means, and as an additional lateral brace, I provide a plate member 13 to engage the rail base 3 and one extension 7 of the upper section 2, one of the said plates 13 being disposed upon each side of the rail at a point intermediate the ends of the tread portion 6 or rail section 2 so as to embrace the said rail at the meeting point. of

the lower rail sections 1. The said rail sec tions 1 and 2, as above suggested, are arranged so as to dispose their meeting ends in alternate relation, that is, the meeting ends of the lower section 1 being disposed intermediately of the joints of the upper section 2. Openings (not shown) are formed in the plates 13 to provide for the attaching of the said plates in proper place by the bolts llabove referred to, as the said openings (not shown) are alined with the openings 12-as well as the openings in the web portion a of the rail. As isobvious,

a nut latis provided for each bolt 11.

By disposing the meeting ends of the lowerrail sections 1 slightly in spaced relation as indicated bythe dotted linesin Fig. 1 of the drawings, it is apparent-that slight -lengthwise or longitudinal movement of the said rails may be provided for; that the elongated openings 12 oftheextension Twill likewise provide for slight longitudinal move'mentot' the upper rail sections 2; and that'bythe'peculiar arrangement of the several elements constituting the present iiivention, the tread portion of the rail is both laterally and longitudinally braced.

Shouldone of the longitudinal edges of the tread portion 6 of the upper rail section 2 "become worn through continued use, it is apparentthat the saidupper section may be readily removed, reversed, and subsequently replaced so as to dispose the-opposite or unused longitudinal edge in a position for use, thereby prolonging the longevity'and durability of the rails to a material extent. By enveloping or inclosing the base and web portion 1 of the rail, it is apparent that the latter is to a great extent protected andthat it may be used-indefinitely as the wear and tear attendant upon the rail is borne entirely by the tread portion thereof.

In reductiontopractice, I- have found that the form of myinvention, illustrated in the drawings and-referred to in the above description, as the preferred embodiment, is the most efficient and practical; yet realizing that the conditionsconcurrent with the adoption of my device will necessarily vary,

I desire to emphasize the fact that various minor changes in details of construction, proportion and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, when required, without sacrificing any of the advantages of my invention, as defined in the appended claim.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A railway rail comprising an upper rail section forming the tread portion of the rail, a lower rail section forming the web and base portions and a part of the said tread portion ofthe rail, said upper portion being removable and reversible upon said lower portion to dispose the respective longitudinal edges of the tread portion in a position, whereby to receive the wear incident to the use of the rails, extensions integrally formed upon said tread portion, said extensions being disposed to depend, one extension upon each side of the web portion of the lower sectionythesaid extensions being in spaced rel'a-tionto said webportion, shoulders extendinglongitudinally of the base portion of the rail, said shoulders being alined with the respectivelongitudinal edges of that portion of the-tread integral with the lower rail section, the said shoulders being engageable with said extensions to vertically and laterally brace theupper section when upon said lower section, plates engageable with the said extensions and the said base portion, the said plates being curved to extend beneath the rail base and engage the under sides of the rail, and fastening means extending through the extensions of said upper portion, the web of said lower portion,

and the said plates to maintain all of the said elements in operative relation and th said extension in engagement with the shoulders atoresaidyas and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony" whereof I affix my signature in presence oftwo witnesses.

JAMES S. FOX. Witnesses:

Mz' Gnovn HATCH, C. W. Jnwn'r'r.

' Copies 0! this patent may be obtained forfive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington. D. G. 

